Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Investment in Storage Facilities and Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Detail)

v3.22.0.1
Investment in Storage Facilities and Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Detail)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands
1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Property
Sep. 30, 2020
Property
Dec. 31, 2020
USD ($)
Property
Sep. 30, 2020
USD ($)
Property
Mar. 31, 2020
USD ($)
Property
Dec. 31, 2021
USD ($)
Property
$ / shares
Dec. 31, 2020
USD ($)
Property
Facility
$ / shares
Dec. 31, 2019
USD ($)
Property
$ / shares
Nov. 30, 2020
USD ($)
Investment Holdings [Line Items]                  
Number of storage facilities acquired | Property           112 40    
Cash payment for property acquisition           $ 1,514,713 $ 521,036    
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures           $ 13,866 $ 14,098 $ 10,165  
Number of facilities acquired           27 7    
Fair value of mortgage assumed             $ 6,353 23,000  
Net other liabilities assumed           $ 8,900 (1,800) 800  
Issuance of Operating Partnership Units           $ 172,716      
Amortization period for in-place customer leases on a straight-line basis           12 months      
Amortization expense related to in-place customer leases           $ 12,400 5,600 2,900  
Amortization expense to be expected for 2022           $ 14,000      
Number of storage facilities sold | Property   4              
Gain on sale of storage facilities               4,100  
Sale leaseback transaction, lease terms           The Company subsequently leased a property it had sold during 2017 and continued to operate the property through November 2019.      
Sale leaseback transaction, period till property continues to operate           2019-11      
Increase in depreciation expense due to facility replacement           $ 2,500 $ 5,800 $ 1,100  
Accelerated depreciation reduced basic and diluted earnings per share | $ / shares           $ 0.03 $ 0.08 $ 0.02  
Non-strategic Properties [Member]                  
Investment Holdings [Line Items]                  
Number of storage facilities sold | Property             0 32  
Net proceeds from the sale of non-strategic properties               $ 207,600  
Gain on sale of storage facilities               $ 100,200  
Common Stock [Member]                  
Investment Holdings [Line Items]                  
Issuance of Operating Partnership Units           $ 82,900      
Preferred Stock [Member]                  
Investment Holdings [Line Items]                  
Issuance of Operating Partnership Units           $ 89,800      
Life Storage-HIERS Storage LLC [Member]                  
Investment Holdings [Line Items]                  
Company common ownership interest           20.00%      
Carrying value of investment     $ 14,300     $ 13,900 $ 14,300    
California [Member]                  
Investment Holdings [Line Items]                  
Cash payment for property acquisition             11,515    
Fair value of mortgage assumed                
Florida [Member]                  
Investment Holdings [Line Items]                  
Number of storage facilities acquired | Property     1            
191 III Life Storage Holdings LLC [Member]                  
Investment Holdings [Line Items]                  
Company common ownership interest         20.00%        
Cash payment for property acquisition         $ 124,200        
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures         $ 8,400        
191 III Life Storage Holdings LLC [Member] | California [Member]                  
Investment Holdings [Line Items]                  
Number of storage facilities acquired | Property         6        
Sovran HHF Storage Holdings LLC [Member]                  
Investment Holdings [Line Items]                  
Number of storage facilities acquired | Property       17          
Company common ownership interest   20.00%   20.00%          
Sovran HHF Storage Holdings LLC and Sovran HHF Storage Holdings II LLC [Member]                  
Investment Holdings [Line Items]                  
Number of storage facilities acquired | Property       25          
Cash payment for property acquisition       $ 293,700          
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures       $ 32,700          
Number of facilities acquired | Property       25          
Sovran HHF Storage Holdings II LLC [Member]                  
Investment Holdings [Line Items]                  
Number of storage facilities acquired | Property       8          
Company common ownership interest   15.00%   15.00%          
Number of facilities acquired | Property       25          
Urban Box Coralway Storage, LLC [Member]                  
Investment Holdings [Line Items]                  
Company common ownership interest     100.00%       100.00%    
Urban Box Coralway Storage, LLC [Member] | Florida [Member]                  
Investment Holdings [Line Items]                  
Company common ownership interest                 15.00%
Carrying value of investment                 $ 3,400
SNL Orix Merrick, LLC, Merrick [Member]                  
Investment Holdings [Line Items]                  
Company common ownership interest           5.00%      
Cash payment for property acquisition           $ 47,900      
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures           800      
Life Storage S E R S Storage L L C [Member]                  
Investment Holdings [Line Items]                  
Number of storage facilities acquired | Property 3                
Company common ownership interest 20.00%                
Cash payment for property acquisition           51,700      
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures           $ 8,300      
Third Parties [Member]                  
Investment Holdings [Line Items]                  
Number of facilities acquired | Property           81